CAMPUS NOTES

“Excursions,” the 15th volume of annotated writings of American naturalist-philosopher Henry D. Thoreau, was published last month by the UCSB-based Thoreau Edition. Edited by University of Texas English professor emeritus Joseph J. Moldenhauer, the book contains nine of Thoreau’s best-known essays and was printed by Princeton University Press. “Excursions” marks the halfway point in the projected 30-volume series of Thoreau’s hand-written journals, correspondence, published work, and uncollected papers, according to Elizabeth Witherell, editor-in-chief of the project.

Peter Ford, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was chosen by the Inter-American Photochemistry Society to receive its 2008 Award in Photochemistry. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in the photochemical and photophysical sciences over the past 10 years of the nominee’s career.

Umesh K. Mishra, professor of electrical and chemical engineering and associate dean of engineering, has received a top award for his “exceptional contributions to electronics”—the IEEE’s David Sarnoff Award. It was presented to him last month for his contributions to the development of gallium nitride electronics.

Matthew Tirrell, dean of the College of Engineering, recently received the William H. Walker Award for outstanding contributions to chemical engineering literature. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers, a professional society with members in 93 countries, presented him the award in November.

William J. Ashby, professor emeritus of French and Italian and former provost (dean) of the College of Creative Studies, has been appointed interim campus director for the Education Abroad Program at UCSB. He first joined the faculty in 1971.

Kate McCurdy, a conservation biologist who worked 11 years for the National Park Service in Yosemite and on Santa Cruz Island, is now director of UCSB’s Sedgwick Natural Reserve in the Santa Ynez Valley. Her father, the late Bruce McCurdy, was a UCSB professor emeritus of art.

Joseph A. Dandona Sr., a former management services officer for Central Stores, died on Nov. 19, 2007, after a stroke and a brief illness. The New London, Conn. native was 85. A “fanatical” fisherman who had been stationed in Alaska during a career in the U.S. Air Force, he joined UCSB in 1967 and retired in 1987. His wife of 60 years, Gladys, died in 2002. He is survived by two sons, two daughters, three sisters, two brothers, and numerous other family members.